Sheet-metal window screen for railway cars



Nov. 13 1923. 313173982 W. W. WATSON I SHEET METAL'WINDOW SCREEN FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Oct. 19, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW/am B3 @661; wwg v Nov. 13 1923;. 1,473,982

"W. W. WATSON SHEET METAL WINDOW SCREEN FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed'Oct. 19, 1922 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6 w M E4 is ii,- [0 /8 T 53 66 3o fiTEJZ 0 f 46 INVENMR 47 W/Mam 1M l lafsofl in section through the central Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

WILLIAM w. wn'rson, or JAMESTOWN, NEW some. sneer-METAL wrnnow scnnnn non RAILWAY cans.

Original application filed March 21, 1821, Serial No. 1921, 165. Divided and this application filed October Too whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM W. WA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Metal Window Screens for Railway Cars, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification.

This ap )lication is a division of an application erial No. 471,465, filed March 21, 1921, and the invention herein set forth relates to sheet metal window screens as adapted for railway cars and similar uses; and more particularly to an improvement upon the car window screen construction shown in Letters Patent Number 1,238,85 1.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable tubular screen frame with looking bolts for the notched guide strips in the frame sides, which bolts are connected so as to be operable to withdraw the same from the lower screen side when in the raised position in the frame of the car abovethe visible window frame, in which raised position said bolts cannot be manually actuated to withdraw the same by means of the actuating levers, but must be withdrawn by means of av hook.

In the drawings, Fig. l is an elevation of a car window with the car frame in section, showing the improved window screen in the elevated position with the hook in position for withdrawing the bolts from their locking engagement with the guide strips on the window frame and drawing down the screen. Fig. 2 is a crosswise sectional view at line 2-2 in Fig. 8; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View at line 3-3 in Fig. 8, the central portions of the frame being broken away to show enlarged sectional views of the frame side. Fig. 4 is a detailed elevae tion of the central turn or crank plate midway of the upper frame side upon which the slotted ends of the connecting links for the locking bolts are shown; also in dotted line the osition of the upper end of the downward y projecting actuating rod for the bolts; and Fig, 5 is a sectional view of said'turn or crank plate, Said sectional view being so made as to show two plates pivot pin and through each. of the connecting pins for said boltlinks and actuating rod. Figs. 6 and 7 show lengthwise sectional and end Serial 110. 585,669.

elevations of the combination corner brace and bolt barrel and pin guideway. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the screen frame, portions of the screen frame being shown in section to show the construction and arrangement of the same as to thelateral frame sides and the central or cross frame strip through which the withdrawing rod passes so that it can be engaged by the withdrawing hook through a slot in the lower frame side. Fig. 9 is a crosswise sectional view of the frame at line 9-9 drawn about double the scale of the frame and guide strips as shown in Fig. 8. Fig.10 is a sectional view of an upper portion of the frame side showing the central turn or crank plate in section with the slotted links connecting the same with the locking bolts in the withdraw-n position. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the preferred form of one of the bolt barrels showing the spring bolt within the same; and Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the insertstrip for holding the lateral side springs in working position within the frame side.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 15 designates the tubular sheet metal frame side which is cut and bent from the fiat sheet metal strip by means of suitable dies'so as to form the lengthwise groove 16 along the inner edges of said frame side.

The numeral 17 which is preferably strips of sheet metal designates the top rail formed of one or more shaped so as to provide said lengthwise groove 16 which opens sidewise along the inner edge, and the narrow lengthwise groove 18'which also opens sidewise along the outer edge, both of said grooves enlarging inwardly. The inner groove 16 enlarges inwardly to receive the spline or holding strip 19 for attaching the screen fabric 20 within the groove 16. The outer groove 18 enlarges inwardly to receive and retain therein the weather stripping 21 which fits within the groove 18 and extends beyond the rail or frame side.

The top rail or upper tubular frame side 17 is preferably formed of a plurality of sheet metal strips, the contacting edge portions of which are pressed together and bent into thelengthwise channel grooves 16 and 18 along the inner and outer edges of the same, the edges of said strips being so arranged as to width as to narrow the sit) the spring mouths of each of said grooves 16 and 18, thethickness of.the inturned sheet metal edges so that said grooves may be said to enlarge inwardly to hold the spline 19 and the'weather stripping. 21. The contacting edges of said sheet metal strips are preferably welded or soldered or otherwise attached so that they cannot turn or move upon one another, thereby giving rigidity to the frame.

The lower cross rail or tubular frame side 22 is preferably made of two sheet metal strips 23 and 24 in somewhat the same form as the upper frame side or cross rail 17, the exception being that the groove 16 is made slightly different, the strip 24 being bent atan inclined angle 25 to prevent the use of the lowering hook 26 upon the screen or frame side in lowering the same, and the lengthwise groove 27 for the guide strip 28 is preferably formed on the outer side of the lower edge of the rail 22 so that said groove 27 opens downward and the guide strip 28 may be pressed downward onto the window sill to make a tight joint between said window sill and the screen frame.

The corners of the screen frame are preferably mitred and united by soldering or welding, though they may be united by any other suitable means. The opposite corners of the upper frame side are provided with bolts 29 and 30 in barrels 31 and 32 which engage in the notches 33 of the guide strips 34 on the window frame at each side.

The opposite lateral edges have the grooves 35 and 36. The groove 35 is formed in a preferably sheet metal channel insert 37 which fits within the groove 38 in the lateral frame side 39. A pair of screws 40 extend through the groove 16 and frame side 39 into the insert 37 suitable threaded nuts 41 being provided in said insert to receive the threaded ends of the screws 40,

the spline or holding strip 19 being slotted on its inner or split side, as shown at 42 in Fig. 2, to permit the insertion of the spline 19 in said groove 16. A washer 43 is attached to the screw 40 within the frame side 39 to bear against the inner wall of said frame side and thereby move the insert 37 inward or outward as is desired in order to adjust the screen frame to the opening between the guide strips 34, said opening having as great an amount of variance in different window frames as one-half inch between frames of supposedly the same measurements in different railway cars.

The opposite frame side 44 is provided with a channel-shaped insert 45 which carries therein preferably a wooden strip insert 46 having the pairs of notches 47 toreceive therein the angularly bent ends of the springs 48. A pair of inwardly projecting guide pins 49 are provided one in each end of the channel 45, which engages in guideways 50 and 51 in the tubular frame side to thereby hold said insert 45 in perfect alignment as it adjusts outward and inward in moving up and down the guide strips 34, thereby always holding said springs 48 in working position as they press against the inner wall of the lateral frame side 44.

It is apparent that this construction of the two frame sides gives adjustable grooves 35 and 36 which are resiliently adjustable for small variances as to the distance between the guide strips 34 by means of the springs 48, and may justed for greater variances by means of the adjusting screws 40 and grooved channel insert 37.

The spring bolt 29 has the barrel 31 preferably struck up from sheet metal with the sidewise extension 51 which forms, as stated, a guideway for the guide pin 49 for the in sert 45 to hold said insert in proper alignment. Said sidewise extension is preferably oblong instead of round so as to permit the sidewise movement of the pin 49 in its rela tion to its companion pin 49 at the opposite end of said insert, since absolute accuracy is unnecessary in the movement or placing of these pins as to their-vertical adjustment, the necessary part being to hold said pins in vertical alignment, that is, so that the insert 45 does not weave or move sidewise, but the screen frame will travel upward and downward with ease and accuracy.

The locking bolts 29 and 30 in their barrels3l and 32 are connected to'a central turn or crank plate 52 by means'of links 53' and 54. Said links 53 and 54 are attached to the inner sides of the annular grooved turn or crank plate 52 by means of the wrist pins 55 and 56 in take-up slots 57 and 58 in said links 53 and 54. The slots 57 and 58 permit the use of manually actuatable levers 59 and 60 which are attached to the bolts 29 and 30 to manually withdraw the same when the screen frame is accessible as in the lowered position. It is apparent, however, that when in the raised position in the frame 61 of the car side as shown in Fig. 1, said frame being pushed upward between the window sash 62, it is necessary to use the lowering hook 26 to withdraw the-bolts 29 and 30 and draw the screen downward into the lowered position as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. V

In order to accomplish this withdrawal of the bolts 29 and 30 when in the raised position, a central tubular cross rail 63 is provided in the screen frame 15, which rail 63 has the attaching grooves 16 along the sides of the same for the screen fabric, thereby providing a hollow tubular way for the rod or lever 64. The rod 64 is pivotally attached be permanently ad- Fig. 5, said rod 64 having an opening in its lower end and through which end the lowering hook 26 can be inserted to thereby turn the turn table 52 by a downward draw and simultaneously withdraw the bolts 29 and 30 and draw downward upon the screen frame, (uickly and easily lowering the same. A s 0t 65 is provided central of the lower edge of the lower screen rail throughwhich the hook 26 may engage the slotted end of the rod 64.

It is now apparent that the screens may be pushed upward into the raised position for protection when in inclement weather, thereby automatically springing the bolts 29 and 30 into the locking notches 33 in the guide strips 34, and that said screen frame may be unlocked and withdrawn from said raised position when it is desired to use the same by simply pulling downward on the rod 64.

In order to assemble the bolt, turn table and connective link mechanism with the manual actuating levers and downward rod within the top rail 17, a cover 66 is provided for said u per frame side or top rail 17 which fits c osely over the same and around the central cross rail 63 as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, thereby covering the openings 67, 68 and 69 in said top rail 17. The cover 66 is channel-shaped and fits closely over said top rail so it can be sprung onto the same and give a pleasing finish to said top rail. Its removal permits immediate access to the connective joints to assemble the parts in the tubular frame side, or to repair the same. The ri ht half of this top rail construction is shown in Fig. 10, the left half being a duplicate in reverse order of the right half. The cover 66 is shown in Fig. 1 with the locking mechanism in dotted outline in the top rail beneath the same. Said cover 66 is not shown in Fig. 8 since said rail is in section, the side upon which said cover 66 would be placed being removed. The exact channel shape and the relation of said cover to the parts is clearly shown in Fig. 3 in cross section.

The channel strip insert is held against displacement from the of a screw 70 and a closed end 71 on the lower end of said channel strip 45. The upper end is held in place by means of a crosswise pin 72 through the inner end of the guide pin 49 which does not permit the escape of said pin 49 from the guide eXtension 51.

Having thus set forth my invention what claim as new and for which I desire the protection of Letter Patent isl. A locking device for a window screen comprising spring actuated locking bolts in the upper corners of the frame of said screen, a crank plate in the upper side of said frame, links connecting said crank plate with said locking bolts, a tubular central cross rail in said frame, and a rod extending from said crank plate down through said central tubular cross rail and formed to receive a hook by which said rod frame side by means is actuated to move said crank plate and retract said locking bolts.

2. A locking device for a window screen comprising spring actuated looking bolts in the upper corners of the screen frame, tubular barrels for said locking bolt-s, a crank plate pivotally mounted within the central portion of the upper side of the screen frame and connected to said lockng bolts to retract the same when oscillated in one direction, a tubular central cross rail in said frame, and a rod attached to said crank plate and extending through said tubular central cross rail to retract said bolts from locking position by a downward pull on said rod.

3. A locking device of a window screen comprising spring actuated locking bolts at the upper corners of the screen frame, oscillatable means in the upper side of the screen frame for retracting said bolts and means extending across the screen frame and accessible from the under side of the screen for actuating said retracting means.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM W. WATSON. 

